BNP's Policy Reform agenda (3rd) on Reintroduction of a Neutral Caretaker Government System

This Policy Research analyses the reestablishment of a neutral, non-partisan caretaker government (NCG) system to ensure free, fair, and impartial parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. This document examines the historical progression of the NCG in Bangladesh (1996-2011), explores the constitutional and legal advancements that resulted in its dissolution and subsequent judicial reassessment, and assesses empirical data from previous electoral cycles and comparative international instances. The study employs a mixed methods approach comprising legal analysis, elite interviews, public opinion surveys, and election observation data to evaluate whether reintroducing an institutionalized caretaker mechanism can enhance perceptions and metrics of electoral integrity, diminish electoral violence, and bolster political trust. The research offers policy design alternatives for a constitutionally sound, responsible, and rights-respecting caretaker framework, while addressing implementation issues and safeguards against militarization or elite capture.